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MOGADISHU — The Permanent Secretary of the Somali Ministry of Defence, His Excellency Yusuf Ali Mohamed, chaired a high-level, expanded coordination meeting to discuss the strategic mechanisms ensuring the strengthening of child protection systems and developing strict preventive measures to bar the exploitation and recruitment of youth in armed conflicts.
According to an official news update published on the official website of the Somali National News Agency (SONNA), the meeting focused primarily on accelerating the implementation of the international “Vancouver Principles,” which represent the most prominent UN framework designed to advance field and policy measures targeting the prevention of child exploitation and banning their involvement in armed hostilities.
The comprehensive discussions held in the capital aimed to deepen joint coordination channels and expand constructive cooperation between various concerned government institutions on one hand, and international partners, led by “Save the Children,” on the other hand, formulating sustainable policies safeguarding child rights.
The session witnessed a high-level attendance from members of the Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC) Working Group, which includes executive representatives from the Ministry of Internal Security, the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, the Ministry of Education, Culture and Higher Education, and the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
As indicated by the documentation data released by the same website, mobilizing administrative and security efforts to prohibit the exploitation of minors has become a fundamental pillar in national planning, with dialogue tables focusing on reviewing legislative frameworks to ensure neutralizing schools from conflicts.
Participating delegations stressed that commitment to the Vancouver Principles represents a qualitative leap in integrating human rights dimensions into the defense doctrine, as continuous training of regular forces on international humanitarian law rules contributes to the early detection of risks threatening child safety.
The coordination meeting concluded with the development of an executive roadmap involving the educational, sports, and security sectors to raise community awareness and dry up sources of polarization targeting vulnerable groups, while strengthening psychological and social reintegration programs for children.
Local human rights circles observe that the synchronization of these official moves with international partnerships reflects a serious political will to end the prolonged suffering of children, reinforcing the importance of building resilient communities capable of nurturing youth as a prerequisite for national stability.
At the conclusion of the session, participants called upon the international community and donors to provide the financial and logistical support necessary for executive ministries to expand the scope of field protection campaigns, warning that the absence of sustainable funding could hinder these protective strategies.
This strategic move in Mogadishu places the child protection file before an advanced rights-based approach that transcends theoretical pledges into binding field measures, proving practically that integrating the “Vancouver Principles” into the defense system represents the core pillar for safeguarding civil peace. Protecting childhood from the clutches of military exploitation is not merely a compliance with international treaties, but a genuine investment in the future of national stability, as neutralizing rising generations from conflicts breaks the cycle of violence. The success of these ambitious plans requires a strict and continuous commitment from all government sectors in cooperation with UN agencies to transform educational institutions into safe havens, reshaping the reality of childhood to become a cornerstone for sustainable development.
